October 13, 2014

The momentum for universal education continued to build at the United Nations General Assembly in New York – as world leaders, CEOs, government, civil society and celebrities came together in a series of high-profile meetings and events.

Here are the top 10 highlights of a memorable week from September 22 to 25 that will make a difference for the 58 million out-of-school children across the globe:

1. Youth launch #UpForSchool Petition

Youth leaders at the rally in Washington Square Park

The week kicked off with hundreds of young people holding a youth rally in Washington Square Park, hosted by A World at School. They launched the #UpForSchool Petition and aim to make it the largest petition in history. Global leaders, including politician and activist Graca Machel and UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, joined them. Organisations came forward to support the call to action by pledging signatures. Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi of Pakistan pledged to collect three million signatures, the World Evangelical Alliance will collect more than one million signatures across its global movement, Education International to mobilise six million teacher signatures and Ricken Patel of the campaigning website Avaaz said he would collect another two million names.